Disney on Ice

Tuk and Kit went to see Disney on Ice.

Program started with Mickey Mouse!

Kit enjoyed the characters from Cars. She just saw the movie for the first time this week.

She also liked the characters from the Lion King although she has not seen the movie.

And Tinkerbell took up much of the second half.

Hiking at Sunol Park with Sophia

Saturday we went hiking at Sunol park. Auntie Pora joined us this time. She was impressed by how well the kids can hike. We did not go when Kit announced she needed to pee. This was Kit's first time playing Pooh-sticks. Sometimes she likes closing her eyes on purpose. We came across this lovely picnic spot too early in the day. We'll be thinking of it later... Kit leads the hike for a while. A lovely day with light rain. It was Tuk's first time hiking in the rain. She didn't mind it as much as she thought she would. Sophia and Kit climbing the gate to cow country. A little break as we climb up to the top of the ridge. Balancing on a rock! They pretended the rock was a car, a dinosaur and a horse. The girls hug each other for making it to the top of the mountain. We planned to have lunch here but the moms didn't like the cow poop so we kept hiking. The kids did not complain. The girls enjoyed a tailgate picnic lunch back at the car.

Purple

Kit says she loved pink when she was two years old. Now that she is three she loves purple. Of course she still likes pink but purple is now her favorite color, at least for the moment.

Citizen's Police Academy

I started taking a series of "classes" in the Santa Clara Citizen's Police Academy. About 20 of us meet at the police department and are introduced to everything they do over the course of 12 weeks.

Last night was the first night of the program where we met fellow volunteers and people from the different departments. We walked through the facility getting an introduction and quick demo from each group. We'll have more thorough demos later.

The city of Santa Clara has a bicycle unit that primarily patrols the university and any sporting events. A motorcycle unit that does a lot of speed control, especially around schools. A swat and negotiation team that has very cool toys. A canine unit, undercover narcotics group, and others. Pretty interesting all the things they must do.

Highlights include training at the range, driving cars, testing our personal threshold on how much physical force to apply in a situation, going on a ride along, and touring the Santa Clara county jail. I wonder how it compares with the San Francisco county jail tour I had as a teenager.

As much fun as it is for us it is apparently even more rewarding for them as they get reminded there are still good people in the community who appreciate what they are doing.

Hiking at Del Valle with Sophia

Kit getting ready to meet Sophia for a hike at Del Valle park in Livermore. Drove by Mom & Ed's old house. Kit and Sophia are always happy to see each other. We start our hike up to the ridge. Tuk found some nice flowers. Kit shows us the view of the lake. A little snack. And a sip of water. The two girls have such fun together. They are both becoming very good hikers. Breno entertains us with a story. It started out as a lovely day. The clouds kept coming in and it became cold and windy. Kit points out some of the birds. Tuk helps Kit up the next hill. Kit and Sophia enjoyed hiking backwards. Almost at the top of the ridge. We made it to the top! Breno and Sophia made it! What a nice spot for a picnic. Here is the view from our picnic spot. We saw many cows and a group of eight deer. Hiking back down to the car just as it starts drizzling. We had a great time hiking with Sophia.

Bouncing and Biking

I took a bike ride while Tuk and Kit went to the bounce house with Arryan, Bryan and Sophia. Rode the levee trails to Alviso and out into the bay.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I drew a heart and Kit traced it using different colors.

Hiking with Sophia

We met Sophia and Breno at Henry Coe park on Saturday.

Kit and Sophia miss seeing each other. They are both good hikers.

Taking a little rest at a bench with a nice view.

Checking the trail signs.

They love to chat and laugh together.

Kit: I have two dogs. Do you know their names?
Sophia: No
Kit: Brownie and Chinda.

Sophia: I have three cats. Do you know their names?
Kit: Brownie, Casie and I forgot the other one.

Kit & Sophia crack up laughing.
Guess you had to be there.


And it is nice to enjoy a snack while hiking.

They had such a nice time together.

The weather was perfect.

Suddenly we came upon a nice spot for lunch so we just stopped and ate in the road.

Afterwards the girls rolled in the grass.

And they stopped at the bench again on the way back.

It is nice to have someone to share snacks with.

After several hours of hiking, Kit's legs were getting tired.

Kit and Sophia are very good hikers. We hope to go hiking together again next Saturday.